criminal

[krim-uh-nl] / ˈkrɪm ə nl /

ADJECTIVE

lawless, felonious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

corrupt deplorable illegal illegitimate illicit scandalous senseless unlawful vicious

STRONG

bent heavy racket wildcat wrong

WEAK

caught crooked culpable dirty hung up indictable iniquitous nefarious off base out of line peccant shady smoking gun unrighteous villainous wicked

Antonyms

STRONGEST

authorized blessed ethical good kind lawful legal legitimate moral noble proper pure right uncorrupt

WEAK

correct righteous

NOUN

person who breaks the law

Synonyms

STRONGEST

convict crook culprit felon fugitive gangster hoodlum hooligan lawbreaker mobster offender thug

STRONG

bad guy bad person baddie baddy blackmailer con delinquent desperado deuce evildoer guerrilla heavy hood hustler jailbird malefactor mug muscle outlaw racketeer repeater scofflaw sinner transgressor trespasser wrongdoer yardbird

WEAK

bad actor black marketeer ex-con inside person slippery eel

Antonyms

STRONGEST

police

WEAK

law

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Those applying must prove they have spent at least five months in the country and not have a criminal record.

From BBC

It’s the programs that make it so easy for criminals to scam.

From The Wall Street Journal

"These networks are essentially criminal organizations, acting together to fake the process of science," Amaral said.

From Science Daily

“Removal of criminals out of this country,” the agent said.

From The Wall Street Journal

In 2025, he and several co-authors published another study examining the use of mosses and other bryophytes as evidence in criminal investigations.

From Science Daily

criminal

Example Sentences

Related Words